Don’t dillydally on the way

AKA My old man
The cock linnet song
First published 1919
Lyrics Fred Leigh Music Charles Collins Roud V53397 / 322460

Music Hall performers Marie Lloyd
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
The Keeping Family ; England : London ; 1930-50
Modern performances: The Clancy Brothers		 

 We had to move away,
‘Cos the rent we couldn't pay
The moving van came round just after dark
There was me and my old man
Shoving things inside the van
Which we'd often done before let me remark
We packed all that could be packed
In the van, and that's a fact
And we got inside all we could get inside
Then we packed all we could pack
On the tail board at the back
Till there wasn't any room for me to ride.

 My old man said follow the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way
Off went the cart with the home packed in it
I walked behind with me old cock linnet
But I dillied and I dallied
And I dallied and I dillied
Lost the van and don't know where to roam
I stopped on the way to have the old half quartern
And I can't find my way home.

I gave a helping hand
With the marble wash-hand stand
And straight we wasn't getting on so bad
All at once the carman bloke
Had an accident and broke
Well, the nicest piece of china that we had
You'll understand of course
I was cross about the loss
Same as any other human woman would
But I soon got over that, what with ‘two-out' and a chat
‘Cos its little things like that what does you good.

 My old man said follow the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way
Off went the cart with the home packed in it
I walked behind with me old cock linnet
But I dillied and I dallied
And I dallied and I dillied
Lost the van and don't know where to roam
Now who's going to put up the old iron bedstead?
If I ain't find my way home.

Oh I'm in such a mess
I don't know the new address
Don't even know the blessed neighbourhood
And I feel as if I might
Have to stay out all the night
And it ain't a going to do me any good
I don't make no complaints
But I'm coming over faint
What I want now is a good substantial feed
And I sort o' kind o' feel
If I don't soon have a meal
I shall have to rob the linnet of its seed.

 My old man said follow the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way
Off went the cart with the home packed in it
I walked behind with me old cock linnet
But I dillied and I dallied
And I dallied and I dillied
Lost the van and don't know where to roam
You can't trust these specials like the old time coppers
When you can't find your way home.

The famous story of a moonlit flit, with lyrics written by the prolific Fred W Leigh with music by Charles Collins.

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